Consequences of US Funding Withdrawal from Haiti’s Elections

The United States has decided to pull $2 million in funding from Haiti’s elections as a statement of disapproval for re-running the presidential elections in October. After finding that the first round of presidential elections were marred by massive fraud, a commission decided to throw the old results out and hold an entirely new presidential election. European Union observers withdrew to express their disapproval and U.S. State Department officials have said they do not understand the decision to start over. While some feel that the U.S. withdrawal from the elections will be a positive step for Haiti’s sovereignty, some worry that lack of U.S. approval will de-legitimize the elections and provide detractors in Parliament a reason to continue blocking the process.

US Withdraws Funding for Haiti Elections

Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Watch,Center for Economic and Policy Research

July 8, 2016

Dismayed by the decision to rerun controversial and fraud-plagued presidential elections, the US State Department announcedon Thursday a suspension of electoral assistance to Haiti. State Department spokesperson John Kirby said the decision was communicated to Haitian authorities last week, noting that the US “has provided over $30 million in assistance” for elections and that the move would allow the US “to maintain priority assistance” for ongoing projects.

Kirby added that “I don’t have a dollar figure in terms of this because it wasn’t funded, it wasn’t budgeted.” However multiple sources have confirmed that the U.S has withdrawn nearly $2 million already in a United Nations controlled fund for elections. Donor governments, as well as the Haitian state, had contributed to the fund. Prior to the US move, $8.2 million remained for elections.

The pulling of funds indicates the growing displeasure with Haitian authorities’ decision to rerun last year’s presidential elections.